Ciao! I'm Laura.
  • Journal
  • About
  • Writing
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Journal
  • Books
  • Podcast
  • About
    • Writing
  • Contact

Ciao Amalfi

Italy, Travel Inspirations · June 15, 2010

Tempting Tuesday: Sicilian Dreams

Last week for  Tempting Tuesday Cherrye took us down to the Sizzlin’ Soverato beach in Calabria. That post was perfectly timed with the arrival of the first sunny and hot weather of summer. I’ve been sizzlin’ this past week on the beaches of the Amalfi Coast, and taking some lovely photos to tempt you all with here. Until then, I have some great friends stopping by to tempt you with destinations throughout Italy. This week I am pleased to welcome Lisa Fantino from Wanderlust Women Travel, who is taking us down past Calabria and a hop over to the beautiful island of Sicily. One of the places in Italy that certainly tempts me!

Welcome Lisa!

_______________________________________________________

 

It’s funny how we make plans and then our life-path takes us in a totally different direction. As a child, I always dreamed of going to Sicily. That was where Nonna was from in Palermo. I would listen to her talk about Etna and the mountains and how as a child she would be in the hills and the clouds would be so close that she could walk right through them. It was mesmerizing! She was mesmerizing! She made even the daily routine of getting groceries from a basket lowered through a window to the street level sound exciting.

450px-Taormina_antique_shop Taormina antique shop by Jeanne Boleyn

Can you believe that all these years later and I still have not been there. I am almost ashamed to say that I have traveled to Italy at least half a dozen times and I have still not been to Sicily or Calabria, the other birthplace of ¼ of my DNA.

However, I am still tempted to visit both of them. The beaches of Calabria and the history of Sicily each call out to me but the burning desire is no longer there, as if that yearning took its last breath when Nonna died. Yet, the amateur genealogist in me must venture there or my story will not feel complete.

800px-Palermo-Teatro-Massimo-bjs2007-02 Photo of Teatro Massimo by Bernhard J. Scheuvens

I must walk the path in front of the Opera House, Teatro Massimo, to see where she skipped rope. (This was also the scene of The Godfather III, where Michael Corleone’s daughter was killed on the steps of the theater…..just a bit of trivia for movie fans!) I must feel the sand through my toes where she went swimming at the beach of Mondello and then I must move on to Corleone and Messina, the birthplace of the rest of my family.

I have been told by locals that there is no beach more beautiful than Tropea in Calabria or Taormina in Sicily, so I will take a peek just to see if they are right………then I will swim home with my memories, but not before visiting the ancient ruins and antique stalls of Taormina.

Lisa Fantino is an award-winning journalist and attorney and the creative force behind Wanderlust Women Travel and Wanderlust Weddings. She also writes travel features for MNUI Travel Insurance and blogs as Lady Litigator.

Posted In: Italy, Travel Inspirations · Tagged: Guest Post, Italy, Sicily, Tempting Tuesday

You’ll Also Love

Linda SarrisMoon Southern Italy: An Interview with Linda Sarris
Intrepid Naples with Carla Coulson
Book Review | InterRail by Alessandro Gallenzi

Comments

  1. Wanderlust Woman says

    June 15, 2010 at 16:38

    Grazie for having me Laura- I like our visits. Wish I could hop to Sicily right now.

    Reply
  2. Laura says

    June 17, 2010 at 11:15

    Ciao Lisa! Ooooh, does that ever sound nice! I just finished a book and part of it took place on the Aeolian Islands. That's where I'm tempted to hop off to right now. Wanna come along? 🙂

    Reply
  3. Anne in Oxfordshire says

    June 18, 2010 at 09:47

    Hi Lisa I do hope you make it to both places one day.. I have been to Sicily ,, an amazing place. We stayed south of Syracuse on the coast. We had a long but lovely drive to Mount Etna .. went up as far as we could on the Funicular/cable car as we could ..Amazing!

    Hi Laura.. I am very tempted to follow you to Aeolian Islands 😉

    Reply
  4. Laura says

    July 13, 2010 at 16:30

    Ciao Anne! I hope to get to Sicily before too much longer. My mother went to the top of Mt. Etna a few years ago and LOVED it! 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

Summer Religious Celebrations in Atrani

Trending Now

  • ciao-amalfi-winter-things-to-do Visiting the Amalfi Coast in the Winter – 5 Things You Need to Know
  • Amalfi Coast Beaches Colourful Sun Umbrellas at the Marina Grande Beach in Amalfi - Horizontal A Guide to the Beaches of Amalfi
  • Amalfi Coast Webcams New Live Streaming Webcams of Amalfi!
  • Amalfi Coast Travel Positano Beach Spiagga Grande A Guide to the Beaches of Positano

Ciao!

My name is Laura and the Amalfi Coast is my passion and my home. I’m a writer and photographer who is endlessly inspired by the incredible beauty of the Amalfi Coast. Welcome to Ciao Amalfi!

Ciao Amalfi

  • Journal
  • Moon Amalfi Coast
  • Newsletter
  • Contact

Amalfi Coast

  • Amalfi
  • Positano
  • Ravello
  • Amalfi Coast

Explore

  • Travel
  • History & Culture
  • Food & Drink
  • Shopping

Laura Thayer

  • About
  • Writing
  • Book Reviews
  • Work with Me

Latest on Instagram

The blue hour in Amalfi this evening. 💙 The blue hour in Amalfi this evening. 💙
Today is an unspeakably sad day for the Amalfi Coa Today is an unspeakably sad day for the Amalfi Coast after the tragic bus accident this morning in Ravello where Nicola Fusco, a young bus driver only 29 years old, lost his life. Investigations are currently underway to determine the cause and I won’t share the upsetting details. The road to Ravello is currently closed and it’s not clear when it will reopen. Nicola was a kind, talented, and experienced driver—the third generation of drivers in his family—a family very close to ours. My husband has been a guide with all three generations and watched Nicola grow up. This is something that shouldn’t happen, shouldn’t ever happen, but it’s something we all fear here. Our hearts are with the Fusco family and to everyone who Nicola’s life touched. 🖤
It sounds like New Year’s Eve outside with firew It sounds like New Year’s Eve outside with fireworks and celebrations for the Naples soccer team wining the championship for the first time in 33 years. To say this is a big deal for the fans doesn’t even begin to describe it. I’ve been watching videos from Amalfi, Sorrento, Ischia and all around Campania. Here was a quiet moment in Atrani before the celebrations began. ⚽️
Requisite Vespa shot with a twist. Let the 6-month Requisite Vespa shot with a twist. Let the 6-month check-ups begin! 🏥

#breastcancersurvivor #breastcancer #tumorealseno
Finally a break in the rain today in Amalfi! Time Finally a break in the rain today in Amalfi! Time to stop and admire the rain puddles.
From my tiny home in the middle of Amalfi, you can From my tiny home in the middle of Amalfi, you can’t see the sea. Growing up in the Midwest and Florida and then spending 12 years with a sweeping view of the sea here from Scala, I’ve long been accustomed to watching the weather. A storm coming feels like danger while a storm passing by out at sea is exhilarating - close enough to capture the energy but not to cause harm. 

Since we moved down the mountain to Amalfi, the main thing I’ve missed is being able to watch the weather. When the weather turns stormy it’s a gamble on whether a break in the rain will last a few moments or long enough to take my favorite walk along the port, out and back each of the piers. While I don’t mind a walk in the rain, if the wind is blowing too strong for an umbrella, timing the break in the rain becomes more essential. 

This morning I woke early to rain pouring down, but before long there was a break. Would it be long enough? I checked the weather app on my phone to see the temperature and forecast. But, like water to a cormorant, I’ve always been a little bit impervious to numbers. Given the chance, my favorite forecast is by stepping outside. I opened the door and stuck my head out. Far above the seagulls were swirling around, their calls a reminder of just how close the sea is even when I can’t see it. As they taunted and laughed at the weather high above, it seemed like a break I could trust.

I slipped on my shoes and jacket and headed out for a pre-breakfast walk. I didn’t make it all the way to the end of the port before sprinkles arrived, but ducking through the arched passageways and side streets I made it home just before the gulls were hushed and the rain came down again.
This morning while watching the swallows swoop and This morning while watching the swallows swoop and swirl over the sea, I looked up and caught this moment of dark and light. It made me laugh since I had just been thinking about how each day we have a choice how we go into the day. Which side are you on?
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Disclosure

Copyright © 2023 Ciao Amalfi · Theme by 17th Avenue